"Canucker Trucker" <flamindakman@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
:> Because the industry is building "softer" 4x4s (most SUV's are AWD now
:> too, instead of a 4x4 system), they are making it difficult for someone
:> to buy a offroad capable set of wheels. Anyone who has taken a Dak off
:> road knows that the IFS on the front end really does limit offroad
:> capability. (most obvious is ground clearence)
: A properly designed IRS system will outperform solid axles in any scenario.
: The problem isn't IRS's .. its that they are being designed for lighter
: duty. The Hummer is 4-wheel independent suspension isn't it? (I could be
: wrong). And as for the ground clearance issue ... that's totally false ..
: on a stock setup. With a solid axle, your lowest point is the big ugly diff
: sticking out .. and the only way to raise that higher is with larger tires.
: With IRS, the diff is not hanging nearly as low, infact, your centerline
: ground clearance will be MUCH greater.
: The biggest downside to IRS is its difficult to design for rugged durability
: (like hitting a boulder on the axle while off-roading).
I would beg to differ on the ground clearance (stock for stock). IFS
generally just has too many little bits hanging down - brackets, A-arms,
etc. Although a solid front axle does have the diff as the lowest point,
at least you only have to worry about that one point, and increasing the
clearance is as easy as putting on larger tires.
There was an interesting article in a recent 4 wheel parts adventures
magazine about solid axles vs independent. You do have a point in that
if the independent suspension is designed properly, it will outperform
a vehicle with solid axles. (Examples can be found on some of the purpose
built tube frame trail rigs.) However, when it comes to mass produced
vehicles and offroading, solid front axle wins every time. (Until you
get to Baha style racing that is, where the independent suspension has the
advantage.) That's two completely different types of offroading though,
so which system is best depends on which offroading style you gravitate
towards.
---Jon-
.---- Jon Steiger ------ jon@dakota-truck.net or jon@jonsteiger.com -----. | I'm the: AOPA, DoD, EAA, NMA, NRA, SPA, USUA. Rec & UL Pilot - SEL | | '70 Barracuda, '92 Ram 4x4, '96 Dakota, '96 Intruder 1400, '96 FireFly | `----------------------------------------- http://www.jonsteiger.com ----'
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